Long Arm Of Law Reaches Out To Children At Christmas

December 20, 1997|By Steve Barnes Sentinel Correspondent

Christmas came early for about 300 disadvantaged children, thanks to the efforts of nearly 100 Volusia County deputy sheriffs.

The deputies ``adopted'' 90 families in the Volusia area as part of the ninth annual 100 Deputies/100 Kids Christmas Party, held Thursday night in the Agricultural Building at the Volusia County Fairgrounds.

The party was designed to provide a merry Christmas to kids who might otherwise have no Christmas at all, said Gary Davidson, Sheriff's Office spokesman.

Deputies fanned out across the county early in the evening to pick up the guests of honor and their families and chauffeur them to the fairgrounds.

The wide-eyed children were welcomed by rows of bright red stockings, piles of presents, colorful decorations, holiday music and a 10-foot Christmas tree.

The children and their families were treated to dinner and visits with special guests, including the Sheriff's Office mascot ``Trusty the Bear'' and Santa and Mrs. Claus, who held court from richly textured thrones.

After dinner, Sheriff Bob Vogel helped Santa pass out presents to the exuberant kids. Each family received a bag of gifts so big that even Santa would have had difficulty fitting it through a chimney.

Each child received a sack with three gifts, a new shirt and a new pair of shoes. The families received $25 gift certificates from Winn-Dixie.

The party helps create a bond between the children and the law enforcement community, Vogel said. Many of the children were chosen because they are considered at-risk, and many were referred by school guidance and resource officers.

``Many of these kids only know us from when we've had to arrest a parent,'' Vogel said. ``This gives us a chance to show that we are their friends, that we love them.''

About 15 members of the Atlantic High School Interact Club organized a canned-food drive at the high school and served dinners and drinks throughout the evening.

The students have worked since Thanksgiving to collect the canned goods, club sponsor Cathy Galotti said. With the help of their classmates, they collected enough to send about seven cans home with each family.

The presents were purchased at Wal-Mart in Port Orange using funds that had been collected by the Sheriff's Office during the past year. The money was raised through a number of activities, including rummage and candy sales, raffles and donations.

The Sheriff's Office spent $11,000 on the toys and another $4,000 on various other items, said Kathy Williams, chairman of 100 Kids/100 Deputies.

Davidson called the party a huge success and said the deputies are already looking forward to next year's celebration.